Yesterday the local community learned that a two year old girl was killed. She was apparently strangled to death by a python. Her mother's boyfriend owned the snake as a pet and it somehow got out, got to the child, and killed her.
When I heard about this, it made me so upset. For one thing, as a mother of five I am protective of my kids and of course always looking out for things that might harm them. This happened not so far from home. There are plenty of wild snakes around here, as well as poisonous spiders roaming about.
But what bothers me most is that this death could have been prevented. Where was the girl's mother? Or the boyfriend? Who was watching the toddler? Who was making sure the snake was secured? If someone was paying attention to either the baby or the snake, this would have been avoided in the first place. And I think the mom deserves a swift kick in the pants (and then some) for allowing this creature anywhere near her child. I almost wish criminal charges could be filed against them for neglect of the child as well as public endangerment.
I'm not coming down on responsible pet owners who choose to have snakes in the house. That's up to the individual. I personally would never own a snake -- I just don't like them. At our old house, I used to pay a neighbor teen $5 to come catch the wild black racers that slithered around in my children's play area in the yard! I'm just angry at these fools who obviously had better things to do than make sure they were taking proper care of the child and this animal.
Just felt I had to get this off my chest. I have been upset by this ever since I heard about it yesterday, and I deemed it better to blog about it than have it pent up inside, annoying me. That could have been my kid out there, totally helpless and unsuspecting. But then my kid would have been supervised as well!
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Comments: 46
Good that you didn't condone all snake owners because of the action of one snake.
And I agree, if they had properly secured the snake ti woudln't have happened. The fact that it was roaming and strangled a child to begin with makes me wonder if they were feeding it properly.
My thoughts also about if it was being fed properly if at all.
It is very sad that the parents weren't more responsible with their child and their pet.
I heard about this on the news. Sad what happened to the little girl. I can't understand why people keep dangerous animals around their young children.
Very sad
I think the mom did get a swift kick in the pants. Anyone that has lost a child can tell you that she's just had the worst thing that could happen to her happen.
I agree that someone should have been watching the little girl. But, I don't know enough about how or where it happened to say it was the mom's or boyfriend's fault. Maybe she had the little girl in a playpen while she took a shower. Or maybe the little girl was in bed? Most of us don't want our children 24 hours a day. There are down times, like when they are napping or asleep at night.
I don't think dangerous animals should be kept as pets, period, and especially not by people who have kids. But, I've seen so many folks with little kids and rowdy rotweilers, etc., that it seems to me that there's not a lot of folks that agree with me.
It is sad.
Terry I couldnt agree with you more.
Nothing that happens to these parents is going to be worse than what has already happened. They lost their child.
I have to agree we don't know all the details. At two years old kids are so curious for one. For two the snake could of gotten out and they thought it was secured. My brother had a snake and he didn't relize the top was broke till it got out one night.
I agree. The death of a child is something one lives with forever and for all we know they might very well have been responsible pet owners. Stuff happens.
Terry
I couldn't agree with you more. Anyone with a small kd has no business owning a wild animal..That is what these snakes are wild.
To my understanding, it happened while the toddler was asleep (perhaps overnight?) because they released the 911 call and they said she was in her crib.
What I don't understand, is how the snake "got out" of it's aquarium/habitat, because any responsible pet owner should take extra precautions with potentially dangerous animals. They interviewed another man who owned the sames type of snake, and he had his behind two locks--one was a combination lock. The last I heard, they were talking about pressing charges for child endangerment, but it's so tragic that this even happened in the first place.
Yes, Brittney, I went and looked at an article. It was overnight that the snake got out and the little girl was sleeping in her bed when it attacked her.
I agree, too, that the parents should have had more knowledge because they obviously lacked some, about how to take care of that snake, but I've seen parents who let their kids out of the cars in parking lots and let them walk into the parking space next to their car and I've seen parents driving 10 miles an hour over the speed limit with kids in the car, which endangers both their children and other people, and I've seen accidents happen where no one, but no one could have prevented it. We need to have a bit of compassion for this mom who lost her child.
this is really sad and upsetting... im trying to keep my cool now. im very protective of my kids too. and pets like that should be well secured that its not gonna get out of its cage, especially when you have kids around the house. dang!
This is sad.
But I hope things dont get too rough for the parents I have a feeling they are going to be condemned in the court of public opinion.
If you put your child in a car they can die.
If you own a dog they could harm or even kill your child.
If you let your kids go to the park they can die.
These parents no more wanted anything to happen to their child than anyone does to theirs.
Hindsight is always 20/20.
This has been all over the news. It was the 2nd time that day the snak got out. Apparently it was in the middle of the night that the snak got into the crib (or bed) and strangled the baby. The boyfriend woke up and found the snake wrapped around her, stabbed it several times but it was too late.
He will most likely face charges.
I agree hindsight is 20/20. I pray that this family finds peace and can forgive themselves. Forgiving yourself, after all, is one of the most difficult things to do.
Very sad but it's not the snakes fault.
Animals have escaped from Zoo's and circus' and they are supposed to be experts.
Any animal can be dangerous.
Well, now, that's a very good point, Lori! Accidents happen and people die. It's never a good thing. But, we should be careful about judging others harshly in these situations because we never know when a preventable accident is going to befall us or our loved ones. Usually when these things happen the parents are harder on themselves than any one else is.
Exactly Terry. To someone that doesnt own a dog if a child or anyone dies as a result of the dog then to them it was preventable.
Same can hold true of anything.
Cars
Trucks
Swimming pools
Trampolines
I could go on and on.
Wonderful perspective Lori.
It's sad, but if you think about it there are so many things in our homes that can kill/hurt our kids. Most important thing you can do for your kid, is watch them! *going thru the helping hands group posts*
That is heartbreaking. I had heard it on the news, but didn't know the child was so young. A terrible tradgedy.
they should charge them with child endangerment! yes, I am not to judge what kind of animals you have, I have a rat. but i always make sure that the locks on the cage are secure. I wonder what kind of cage or aquarium the snake was in?
that was so sad, and I bet the mom and b/f will carry them for the rest of their life
That was so sad, I hadn't heard that was the 2nd time it got out that day so they had a warning then. I personally don't think a snake need be in the house with a two year old.
I don't know about this. I used to own a snake (before I had kids) and I have a 2-year old. I also have a 4-year old, and my 2-year old can get out of my sight for a good 10 seconds while my 4-year old fights for my complete attention, and vice versa. I also know that snakes are extremely clever and usually not at all dangerous (assuming you have a non-poisonous snake) - dogs are more dangerous in most cases. My guess is the Python got out and nobody knew the Python was loose, the child got away from the caretaker's eyes for a few seconds, and the python went for the heat. Snakes are cold blooded and will "cling" to warm bodies. What I considered just my ball python clinging to my body might have been able to close a 2 year old's throat. The snake might not have been hungry and this could have just been a tragic accident.
I don't agree that charges should be filed, at least with not the information I've been given. I don't even know if the parents were at home - was she being watched by the parents or a caregiver/babysitter? Were there any extenuating circumstances regarding the child (asthma, etc.)? How large was the python? When was it last fed? How long had it been missing, if at all?
Personally, I'm much more worried that my kids are going to try and "fly" by jumping off things and cracking open their heads on the furniture, or knocking each other out when they argue, or something to that effect. All my drawers, door, cabinets, outlets, etc have locks on them, but that doesn't stop them. They defeat the most complicated and sturdy locks - and my son was defeating locks at 14 months old! So there are a LOT of questions I would have to have answered before I would further destroy someone's life by pressing charges against them.
I saw this on the local news. So senseless and very sad.
so sad
It is sad and senseless, that poor child.
The mother and boyfriend should be charge with the death of that little girl. That makes me so upset that a mother, would allow a deadly snake into her home. I don't care if its her boyfriends or not. It shouldn't have been in that house with that little girl. I knew a friend that had snakes and lizzards, alot and she was having a baby and told him to get rid of them because the baby was coming. Would you believe that he left his wife and kept the snakes and lizzards. He said they mean more than his wife. After the baby was born, and the baby is 5 months old, he wanted to take her back to his house for visitation. She said no way unless he gets rid of them reptiles. He said no, so she took him to court. The judge said, only visitation is allowed at her house or take her out, but not allowed in his home at all unless those reptiles are gone. Would you believe that he never went back to visit his own daughter at all after court. Thats so sad. But, anyways, it shows that some people don't have a brain at all when it comes to their own kids. Some have no sense of danger they just do what ever and the child pays the price. If someone has reptiles or any animal that can cause problems they should think twice. Great article. So upset though for that child, it was a senseless death that could have been prevented if the mother was being a mother.
What a moron. I had two turtles that I raised since age 8 and loved them very much. When I had my oldest son the news was starting to come out that the bacteria from turtles could harm small children. I made the only choice a responsible mother could make -- I found those turtles a new home that did not have small children about. I still miss those turtles, but have healthy children!
that is sooooo sad ! how horrible ! poor baby !
I heard this on the news a couple of days ago. It saddens me to think of this tragedy.
Exotic animals as pets. Think again.
The snake should never have been in the house.
This is all over thenws in my area - southen Florida. where these type of snakesare in the wild now. My county has passed a law/ordinance where a reptile or snak owner over so many inches has to get te animal microchiped. Plus if they get one from an animal shelter it has to be microchipped as well.
That is so very sad.
How very sad and it could have been prevented pif
That is very horribly sad. I always hate to hear these things. I can't believe people would harm a child in such a way.
PIF
I read about this.. very traggic accident! I feel awful for the parents!
so horrible.... i don't even want to think of the terror the child felt..... sigh pif
Oh that is so horrible. PIF
I wont say a lot, but hate the parents did not protect their child. That snake would have never been in my house.
I do feel for the Mom and the boyfriend, but after all, the snake was loose, it's an exotic pet--it's not safe around a child in the first place, like we had the chimp attack here in CT, nobody will ever be the same from that.
My thoughts? If you have children, don't have these types of pets.
I think I heard this on the news on like CNBC or something like that, it is a real tragidy.
~HH